HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-01-12 Planning Board MinutesMinutes of the Meeting of January 12, 1981.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Zorabedian at
7:40 PM in Room 19, 52 S-- with E. Childress, J. Shaw and
B. Mitchel present.
Correspondence
Mail was reviewed.
The Board of Selectmen has notified each department to review
their budget and list what expenses are absolutely necessary
to that department for FY 182.
All Boards Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 1981
at 7:30 PM in the Community Center Auditorium. The subject
matter will be Proposition 2 11/2.
The Board received a letter from Mrs. Jean Decker of Mineral
Street (a senior citizen) re: the article in the Reading Chronicle
as to citizen input for Community Center, Town Hall and the
Highland School highest and best use/reuse of these buildings.
Ms. Decker is in favor of the Community Center being rehabili-
tated for low and moderate income housing, especially for the
elderly. She states that the central location of this building
makes it ideal for senior citizens to do shopping, attend
church, go to any and all medical facilities that they need.
Response received by the Board re: this article is as follows:.
J. Zorabedian - 5 in opposition to reuse of any of the
buildings;
E. Childress - 1 in Favor of Highland School being con-
verted into Library; 2 in favor of cower
sion of the Community Center into office.),
space 8 phone calls recorded in all -
all others were in opposition to change,
J. Shaw - 5 calls recorded, all opposed.
B. Mitchel - 1 call; opposed
The Building Inspector's office has received six phone calls
in one day re sale of land owned by A. Dubitsky located on
.Salem Street. This parcel of land is now zoned Residential,
inquiries were the best way to proceed for rezoning this land.
Mr. Ed Bates from MAPC called stating that t,'4eJ est Street
traffic study is not feasible for MAPC to Ur ~a~zy_ ue to the
reduction in its technical staff as per the directive of Gov.
King to Secretary Locke. Mr. Zorabedian will call Mr. Bates
to, further discuss this matter.
Finances
The Chairman prepared the FY 182 Budget for submission to the
Finance Committee on Thursday, January 22, 1981. The total
appropriation has remained the same as that requested for FY 181.
The total appropriation has been reduced since. FY '78' and have
returned money to the Town Treasury every year since 1977.
( '77 $73; '78 -$4400; '79 - $1200; and '80 - $2000.)
The Board has no income source other than the fee schedule,
which is collected and returned to the Town Treasury; and is
-2
as follows:
Zoning map (1 page) $ 2.00
Zoning Text 3.00
Full set zoning maps
(35 pg reduced size) 15.00
Public Hearing 40.00
The Board briefly discussed wising the fee for a public hearing
from $40 to $45 per hearingeffective 7/1/81. This matter was
tabled for discussion until a later meeting. One important
point made during the discussion that there should be a pro-
vision for a waiver of the fee for hardship on a unanimous i
vote of the members of the Planning Board, -t''
The secretary was instructed to contact B.F.Makepeace to have
the tattered copy of the '42 Zoning Map restored.
The schedule for the meetings next week is as follows:
J. Zorabedian will attend the FinCom meeting on 1/22/81
B. Mitchel will attend the All Boards meeting on 1/21/81
Annual Report
The Secretary was asked to make a draft copy of the work items
that the Planning Board has considered during this past year
and give it to Mr. Mitchel so that he can prepare the Board's
Annual Report for submission to the Town Clerk.
Annual Town Meeting Issues
The Board discussed the closing of the Highland School and its
impact. They also discussed the effect of Proposition 2 1/2
and the response of the various departments to the proposed
cuts.
The Planning Board's responsibility is the best utilization
of Town property. At present the Town is not utilizing their
buildings to their hgihest and best use.
At 8 PM, Mr. Dan Ensminger from the Industrial Development
-Committee appeared before the Board to discuss.the Town-owned
land commonly known as the Dump. Among the matters discussed
were
the BPW's proposal that the Dump may have to be r-eopejicd
becu%se of the high cost estimates that Browning-Ferris
is giving. to__._the _Town_ for trash collection
--Because of the impact of Prop 2 1/2,,,.BPW may be forced
to open the Dump;
- Any reasonably planned development in this area will off-
set higher costs for hauling refuse rather than allow a
transfer station be set up at the Incinerator site.
IDC is contemplating a Warrant article for Annual Town Meeting
to request a $ amount for test borings at the Dump site;
- Mr. Don Stroeble of IDC has been in contact.with MAPC to
determine what funds are available to this Town for the purpose
of drilling (test borings). They have emphasized the regional
impact to MAPC.
- Mr. Zorabedian suggested that some technical assistance
might be obtained through some of the area technical
colleges. This avenue has not at present been pursued
by the IDC
Very limited test borings alive been done at this site;
Sasaki in their report listed very limited borings; and
BPW likewise.
- Danvers/Beverly IDC has had great success; Reading IDC
will be meeting with them in the near future.
IDC is unanimously opposed to the sale of the Dump Sit4e
on a piecemeal basis. They are on record as being unani-
mously opposed to opening up the Incinerator as a relay
.station,
- that the estimate given by the past Assessor was low.
The Board of Assessors is presently reconsidering the
estimate for the Dump site land being considered for
sale of 128 Sales, INc.
that the best and hgihest use for this 35A site would be
as an office building. This would bering the highest $
return to the Town.
- a required buffer area for this site,
- IDC will contact Mr. Zorabedian. as MAPC representLative
for Reading to inform him of any proposals to MAPC by IDC.
The Board concluded the meeting with Mr. Ensminger at 9:20
FAQ and res °`ed discussion of the lis-ced agenda items
Zoning
Ms. Childress discussed zoning requirements with Col. Anderson
of the Board of Assessors. He stated that he feels that the
maximum height requirement should not exceed more than 1 story
greater than the hghest builidna in the area. A safety code
should also be included.
M.s. Childress will =pork ` , ith the Secretary to review any
zoning matte- ---s for i }le . Aniaual Town Meeting
L` nuts a
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously
a1_proved the minutes of the meetings of 12/8/80 and 1/5/81,
as corrected.
The next meeting of the Planning Board will. be held on r`onday,
1/26/81.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted to adjourn
at 9:.55 xyi.
R._.._--- -
BJM